5 Best GRE Vocabulary Books To Score Good Marks

Do you want to know the best GRE Vocabulary Books? If so, explore some of the best GRE vocabulary books to help you score well on the GRE.

All students who want to move abroad for higher studies dream of getting admission to the top universities. Many universities offer world-class education, scholarships, high placement opportunities, and more, but these top universities have strict student eligibility criteria.

Thus, to be selected, students must take a universal aptitude test. The best one for this is the Graduate Record Examination or the GRE. This exam offers admission to various graduate schools, including the world’s top business schools like the Harvard Business School. The GRE is a computer-based standardized exam that tests your aptitude in basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data analysis, and college-level vocabulary.

The GRE is an MCQ-based exam. Any graduate seeking admission to master’s or postdoctoral courses can take the GRE. Many students ignore the vocabulary part of the GRE, which is crucial to getting a high score.

Before we move to the list of best books for GRE vocabulary, let us first understand why you should choose a vocabulary book for GRE preparation.

Why Choose GRE Vocabulary Books?

As we all know, vocabulary is nothing but your collection of words. This might seem easy at first to just mug up new words and use them, but you should have the proper guidance for which words to use and when to use them. 

These books will also help you to study the words you require so that you do not learn words that are not useful for the exam. Referring to a vocabulary book for the GRE exam will provide you right guidance to build up your vocabulary and increase your overall score. 

The various reasons to choose GRE Vocabulary Books for preparation are mentioned in the image:

5 Best GRE Vocabulary Books for Students

Now that you are clear about the need for GRE vocabulary books, let’s directly jump into the list of best vocabulary books for the GRE exam.

1. Vocabulary Builder Workbook: Simple Lessons and Activities to Teach Yourself Over 1,400 Must-Know Words

The first book in our list of the best GRE preparation books for vocabulary is the Vocabulary builder workbook. This had to be our number one as it demonstrates a new approach to learning new vocabulary and boosting your language skills. 

Learning new words is a challenging task as you will have to retain the exam date, which requires constant revision. In this book, the author, Chris Lee, has developed a method by which you will be able to learn and retain a fundamental understanding of 1,400 words. These words have been selected socially for test takers of the SAT, ACT, or GRE. 

These are the words that will directly improve the quality of your answers and, in turn, your overall score. This book not only improves your score but also aims to make you a better listener, reader, and a better speaker altogether. 

The techniques introduced in this book will effectively help you to increase your retention of new words steadily, and as you read the book further, the difficulty will increase. 

After reading the Vocabulary Builder Workbook, you will be a skilled wordsmith and will be able to increase your retention of new words, however hard they may be. 

This book has a rating of 4.5 on Amazon and is among the bestsellers, which is why it made it to our list of the best GRE vocabulary books. You can buy this book at a price of $9.89 INR from amazon’s official website.

Features of Vocabulary Builder Workbook

1. Expertly designed lessons: The lessons are organized by theme to help you identify roots, form associations, and recognize thousands of additional words outside of this workbook.
2. Retention-focused activities: The exercises are designed to help you remember every word long after you have finished the workbook.
3. Covers over 1,400 essential words: This workbook includes a comprehensive list of words that are essential for success on standardized tests and in everyday life.
4. Easy-to-use format: The workbook is designed to be easy to use and follow, even for beginners.

To know about the GMAT VS GRE, read our other blog on it.

2. GRE Power Vocab

If the previous book was a bit too much for you and if you do not need a detailed book like the vocabulary builder workbook, then the GRE Power Vocab is just the right book for you. 

This book made it to our list of best GRE vocabulary books as it includes the meaning and basic usage of over 800+ words. By understanding the usage and the meaning of these words, you can easily increase your score in the GRE verbal section. 

The GRE Power Vocab will provide you with strategies and expert tips in addition to the  800+ words by which you can retain these words better. The writer of the book believes that by flashcards alone, you cannot tackle the vocabulary of the GRE; you will require specialized strategies and tips. 

These words are the ones used by the most scored answers and are loved by the examiners. You will be trained to work smarter and more effectively toward building your vocabulary list. 

The GRE Power Vocab empowers you with the secrets of retaining hard words at a price of $6.06. It is also rated 4.5 stars on Amazon, which makes it the reader’s choice. 

Features of GRE Power Vocab Book

1. 800+ Essential GRE Words: GRE Power Vocab provides a carefully curated list of over 800 high-frequency words that are frequently encountered on the GRE. These words are essential for comprehending challenging passages and answering difficult questions.
2. Detailed Word Definitions: Each word entry includes a comprehensive definition, along with synonyms, antonyms, and usage examples. This in-depth information helps students grasp the nuances of each word and effectively incorporate it into their vocabulary.
3. Root, Prefix, and Suffix Analysis: GRE Power Vocab delves into the etymology of words, explaining the origins of root words, prefixes, and suffixes. This understanding of word structure enables students to decode unfamiliar words and expand their vocabulary beyond the specific words listed.
4. Cross-Linked Quiz Questions and Answers: The eBook version of GRE Power Vocab features interactive quiz questions with cross-linked answers and explanations. This interactive format allows for immediate feedback and targeted practice.

3. Essential Words for the GRE

The Essential Words for the GRE, authored by Philip Geer, have made it to number 3 on the list of the best GRE vocabulary books. This book empowers you with 800+ high-frequency words that are needed for the GRE. Learning the usage and the meaning of these words will ace your GRE Verbal reasoning section. 

The book contains detailed practice tests built to test your vocabulary. It also follows with a detailed answer key with all the required explanations. In this way, you can check which word was used where and what was needed to use that particular word. 

This book comprehensively covers the whole verbal reasoning part, so by referring to this perfect guide for the Verbal reasoning section of the GRE, you will ace the vocabulary and verbal sections. 

The book also contains stimulating exercises, most of which are practically based, so you get trained to use these words in daily life and thus retain them better. 

You can buy this book from amazon’s official website. It also has a rating of 4.5 stars on Amazon.

Features of Essential Words for the GRE Book

1. Clear definitions and usage examples: Each word is accompanied by a clear and concise definition, along with insightful usage examples that demonstrate how the word is used in various contexts.
2. Extensive sentence-completion exercises: The book provides a wealth of sentence-completion exercises to help you practice using the target vocabulary in context. These exercises reinforce your understanding of the words and prepare you for the types of questions you’ll encounter on the GRE.
3. A detailed pretest and posttest: A diagnostic pretest at the beginning of the book helps you assess your current vocabulary level and identify areas for improvement. A comprehensive posttest at the end of the book allows you to gauge your progress and ensure you’re ready for test day.
4. A chapter on word roots and affixes: This chapter delves into the origins of words, explaining how word roots and affixes can help you decipher the meanings of unfamiliar words. This knowledge empowers you to tackle even the most challenging GRE vocabulary.

4. GRE Master Wordlist: 1535 Words for Verbal Mastery

This is the fourth book in our list of the best GRE vocabulary books and contains 1535 words. These are not just random words but specially selected essential words for the GRE. 

This book is made to guide you through the latest format and syllabus of the GRE verbal reasoning section. Students often face problems with the vocabulary part of the GRE and rely on flashcards and dictionaries for their preparation. Still, you will require a specialized approach to get a decent score in the verbal section. 

This book provides you with 1535 handpicked words by GRE experts with years of experience with these words and their importance in the GRE. 

These words are not disorganized in the book; they are rather grouped in synonyms-antonyms that you will need in the exam. This book also provides you with the right context for the usage of each word. 

The GRE Master Wordlist of 1535 words is available on Amazon with a 4.5-star rating. If you need a detailed book for your vocabulary preparation, this book is for you. 

Features of GRE Master Wordlist: 1535 Words for Verbal Mastery Book

1. Comprehensive Coverage: The GRE Master Wordlist includes over 1,500 of the most essential words for the GRE, ensuring that you are well-equipped to tackle the challenging vocabulary on the test.
2. Expertly Curated: The words in the list have been carefully selected by GRE experts to ensure that they are frequently used on the test and will significantly improve your vocabulary score.
3. Convenient Format: The GRE Master Wordlist is available in a variety of formats, including print, digital, and audio, to suit your learning preferences.

5. GRE Vocabulary: A Quickstudy Laminated Reference Guide

The last book which is not so bookish on our list of GRE Vocabulary books is the Quickstudy laminated reference guide for GRE Vocabulary. This is not an actual book but a quick review guide with all the details. 

It has got a total of 800+ GRE Vocabulary words which have been frequently used in previous papers and are essential. These words are given alphabetically, so it is easy for you to review them. 

This is the best tool to increase toys GRE verbal reasoning score. It is highly portable you can take it with you anywhere and revise your words anytime, and it is one of the least expensive study tools for vocabulary. 

This can replace your flashcards and will be an important tool to revise all the vocabulary the last time. This is not just a paper with a list of words on it. It is a miniature book as it tells you the meaning o every word and their correct usage. 

This will help you with the fill-in-the-blank question in the exam, as it requires a good bank of words to choose the correct answer from. 

This amazing tool is available on Amazon with a 4.5-star rating. I suggest you buy and use this tool even if you take another reference book for your study, as this will be a quick revision tool. 

Features of GRE Vocabulary: A Quickstudy Laminated Reference Guide

1. Organized alphabetically by word root: The words are organized alphabetically by word root, making it easy to identify and learn related words.
2. Top GRE vocabulary words: The guide highlights the top GRE vocabulary words that are most likely to appear on the exam.
3. Portable and easy to use: The laminated format makes this guide ideal for on-the-go studying. It can easily fit in your backpack, purse, or pocket.
4. Affordable: This guide is a cost-effective way to improve your GRE vocabulary. It is significantly less expensive than other GRE vocabulary study aids.

Conclusion 

The Verbal reasoning part of the GRE is undoubtedly one of the hardest sections for students. There are a lot of new words to study when it comes to building vocabulary, but you mustn’t overwhelm yourself with unnecessary words. 

Try to learn only those words that are given in the books and are advised for a higher score. The above 5 GRE vocabulary books will help you increase your verbal score in the exam. 

For more questions and queries, contact our experts or let us know through comments. Keep visiting CourseMentor™ for more content like this.

Read our other blog to learn about GRE Exam Syllabus.

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